Following seven years of being shuttered after being partially demolished by an EF-3 tornado in 2019, the R.E. Hunt Museum and Cultural Center’s is set to reopen, kicking off Juneteenth celebrations in Columbus.

After renovations to the building were completed in December, Laverne Greene-Leech, founder and director for the museum, said she and her team finally had the chance to move boxes of artifacts back into the museum, where they began the process of sorting through items hastily stored in each box.

While there are still a few boxes left to unpack, Greene-Leech estimated at least 70% of the collection survived.

“When we got it out, that was overwhelming, just to have it all piled there in one space and you don’t know what’s in what box,” Greene-Leech said. “It was hard but we worked together and we got it done.”

On Friday, members of the public will be invited to see that collection as the museum, located at 924 20th St. N., reopens in conjunction with Juneteenth festivities. After viewing the exhibit guests are invited across the street to the Sim Scott Community Center for light refreshments.

Greene-Leech said she was excited the reopening could be held in conjunction with Juneteenth festivities this year. Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 federal troops arrived in Texas, the last stronghold of institutionalized slavery, to inform the more than 250,000 enslaved people in the state of their freedom.

The holiday originally was celebrated in Texas primarily before growing in significance across the nation, including annual local celebrations in the Golden Triangle. It was declared a federal holiday in June 2021.

Celebrations in Columbus began last weekend with the fifth annual Juneteenth Freedom Ball. Following the museum reopening Friday, festivities continue Saturday with the Juneteenth Festival, which was founded 30 years ago by District 5 Lowndes County Supervisor Leroy Brooks and Emergency Management Agency Director Cindy Lawrence.

“Our first festival I don’t even remember who the bands were, but I do know they played on the back of a flat bed,” Brooks said. “As time has passed we have gone from flatbeds to top of the line stages … to have sustained for 30 years is a milestone.”

The festival kicks off its 30th year at noon Saturday, featuring live gospel and R&B performances from DJ Lovebone, Rick “Don’t Go” Mason, Artistik Band, Carolyn Staten and Urban Mystic. Admission is free, and there will be food vendors at the event.

“We are all excited for it and people look forward to it,” Brooks told The Dispatch on Tuesday. “Juneteenth is especially important this year because for African Americans it seems that we’re under attack by a lot of different corners.”

In Starkville, Yulanda Haddix, president of the StarkVegas Juneteenth Committee for Unity, this year she hopes people will leave Juneteenth celebrations truly understanding the history behind the holiday.

“It’s not really about a festival (or) having a day off of work. It’s about remembering,” Haddix told The Dispatch on Tuesday.

Festivities in Starkville start at 6 p.m. Thursday with an opening ceremony at J.L. King Park, featuring speeches from Mayor Spruill, Vice Mayor Roy A. Perkins, Ward 7 Aldermen Henry Vaughn and Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors President Marvell Howard. Live music and fireworks will close out the night.

Celebrations continue Friday with Starkvegas Heritage and History Tours leaving from J.L. King Center throughout the day, starting at 8 a.m. From 6 to 10 p.m., local artists will be performing at Westside Park.

Among the many Juneteenth events set for Saturday, including a 5K and a classic car show, Starkville Unity Park Committee will hold a ceremony for the 2026 Unity Park Honorees – Dean Wallace Colvard and Carroll T. Washington – beginning at 10 a.m. in Unity Park.

Starkville festivities conclude Sunday with the Ricky Howard Gospel Festival at Bethel Baptist Church, beginning at 3 p.m.

Haddix encouraged community members to attend festivities this weekend both to celebrate shared history and to get to know neighbors better.

“I want (people) to take away more history, I want them to share some history and take away history and meet a new friend,” Haddix said. “The No. 1 thing I want people to take away from Juneteenth is to learn something about someone else they did not know.”

Juneteenth Schedule:

Columbus

Friday, June 19:
■ R.E. Hunt Museum and Cultural Center reopening celebration at 924 20th St. N. starting at 6 p.m. with a reception to follow at Sim Scott Community Center

Saturday, June 20:
■ 30th annual Juneteenth Festival from noon to 10 p.m.

Starkville

Thursday, June 18
■ Opening ceremony from 6 to 10 p.m. at J.L. King Park

Friday, June 19
■ Starkvegas Heritage and History Tours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., departing from J.L. King Center
■ Local musical performances from 6 p.m to 10 p.m. at WestSide Park
Saturday, June 20th
■ 5K run/walk starting at 7 a.m. at McKee Park
■ Classics, Corvettes and Trucks Juneteenth car show starting at 10 a.m. at Travis Outlaw Sportsplex
■ Unity Park Honoree Induction Ceremony starting at 10 a.m. at Unity Park
■ Youth girls sport camp from 10 a.m. to noon at Starkville High School gym
■ Johnie E. Cooks Boys to Men Life Camp from 10 a.m. to noon at Shira Fieldhouse
■ Music Festival from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Renasant Plaza

Sunday, June 21
■ Ricky Howard Gospel Festival starting at 3 p.m. at Bethel Baptist Church

West Point

Saturday, June 20
■ BBQ Drippins Juneteenth and Father’s Day celebration from noon until supplies run out